Healthy, Decadent Fudge

Say the word lentil and most folks think soup or stew perhaps. Confused? you thought this was about decadent fudge right, read on!

Did you know lentils are little powerhouses of nutritional goodness? Like other legumes, lentils are low in fat and high in protein and fiber. Lentils have a mild, often peppery flavor, and they’re best if cooked with assertive flavorings.

Lentils are not likely to knock bacon off our plates anytime soon. But research at UC Berkley shows that lentils – and similar legumes – help restore American farmland besieged by sustainability problems. Unlike traditional grains, lentils need no chemical fertilizers, as they pull life-giving nitrogen from the air and return it to the soil. And, in drought stricken California, farmers are finding lentils require far less water. After all, lentils come to us from the fertile crescent of the Middle East, a swath of arid fertile land between Turkey and Mediterranean Sea quite similar to California’s Central Valley.

A cheap, sustainable crop, lentils hardy gems are a rising star ingredient with Meatless Mondays and ethnic cuisines gaining popularity. And, by the way, they’re versatile and delicious so why not make fudge! Go on, give it whirl………..